Covestro and Reverdia Join Hands to Develop Bio-based TPU

Published on 2015-10-07. Author :
SpecialChem

Covestro, formerly Bayer MaterialScience, and Reverdia have reached an agreement to jointly develop and promote thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU) based on renewable raw materials. Covestro will employ Biosuccinium™ succinic acid from Reverdia for the production of its Desmopan® -brand TPU for use in a variety of applications, including in the footwear and consumer electronics industries.

Fig. 1: Covestro and Reverdia develop bio-based TPU

Biosuccinium™, produced at commercial scale since 2012 using Reverdia’s patented low-pH yeast technology, allows Covestro to capitalize on years of research. The company plans to expand its bio-based TPU production in Taiwan to industrial scale.

High biomass content

Bio-based Desmopan® products are already available in various hardness grades, including 85 Shore A, 95A and 60D. They match the excellent physical properties of conventional grades while also providing a better carbon footprint along the value-added chain. Simulations by Reverdia suggest a roughly 65 percent reduction in the carbon impact compared with products produced with petrochemicals. The biomass content of the Desmopan® TPU in the aforementioned hardness grades is 65 percent (85 Shore A), 52 percent (95A) and 42 percent (60D).

“Our customers in the footwear and consumer electronics industries are constantly looking for new solutions to reduce their CO2 footprint, and bio-based TPU from Covestro is one such solution,” said Marius Wirtz, Global Head of the TPU business. “We are looking forward to working with Reverdia to bring these modern materials to the market.”

Reverdia President Marcel Lubben said, “We value our partnership with Covestro and see it as a long-term investment by both parties with the aim to jointly develop bio-based materials for both industries. These applications, which have now reached industrial scale, underscore the good properties of Biosuccinium™ and its potential to improve the climate balance of consumer products. Reverdia’s yeast process has thus proved to be a particularly sustainable method for the production of bio-based succinic acid.

About Covestro

With 2014 sales of EUR 11.7 billion, Covestro is among the world’s largest polymer companies. Business activities are focused on the manufacture of high-tech polymer materials and the development of innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. The main segments served are the automotive, electrical and electronics, construction and sports and leisure industries. The Covestro group has 30 production sites around the globe and employed approximately 14,200 people at the end of 2014. Covestro, formerly Bayer MaterialScience, is a Bayer Group company.

About Reverdia

Reverdia is the joint venture between Royal DSM, the global Life Sciences and Materials Sciences company, and Roquette Frères, the global starch and starch-derivatives company. Reverdia takes among the leadership positions and leverages the expertise and experience of DSM and Roquette to produce, market and license Biosuccinium™.